What started as a temporary solution to offset road and train congestions during transit closures is now a permanent option for commuters. The ferry routes connecting downtown Boston with both East Boston and Lynn went into full-time service on Monday.
Paola Villatoro lives in East Boston and works in the Financial District. She previously relied on the Blue Line but she says when the ferry came online it was a no-brainer.
“It’s a very convenient 5-minute walk from where I live and from where I work,” she told GBH News as she was boarding at Long Wharf North.
Villatoro said she often encountered delays on the train, and the ferry service has been more reliable.
The ferries previously ran as pilot programs during closures of the Sumner Tunnel and the Blue Line. The T estimates about 100,000 riders used the East Boston line last year and about 24,000 used the Lynn ferry.
The East Boston ferry operates between Lewis Mill Wharf in East Boston and Long Wharf North in Boston, running seven days a week at a cost of $2.40 each way. The Lynn ferry runs between Blossom Street Pier in Lynn and Long Wharf, running Monday through Friday for $7 per ride.
Weekend service is scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 24, according to the MBTA.
Sarah Ducott, who lives in East Boston, said she won’t use the ferry for her daily commute, but she and her dog Ruger will hop aboard when they want a day out.
“I actually have the day off. We left home, we’re going to do a harbor walk, we’re gonna stop at Polka Dog over on Salem Street and then just head home,” she said. “We just love coming over here. I lived in the North End for many years but it’s just a beautiful way to kind of get a view of the city, get some fresh air. When it’s the smaller boat we’ll sit out front with him.”
The ferries will run from now through the end of November, when they’ll go into hibernation for the winter before coming back into service next spring.
